Bar profile: Double Happiness

Wednesday

Sep 7, 2011 at 12:01 AMSep 8, 2011 at 4:09 PM

Conor Oberst announcing, during Bright Eyes' June show at the LC, that everyone should come to Double Happiness for an after-party with the band is an outstanding way to introduce your bar to Columbus.

Jesse Tigges, Columbus Alive

Conor Oberst announcing, during Bright Eyes' June show at the LC, that everyone should come to Double Happiness for an after-party with the band is an outstanding way to introduce your bar to Columbus.

I imagine many of those concertgoers were excited to visit Double Happiness, for which the after-party doubled as an opening night celebration.

Co-owner and booking agent Yalan Papillons used to book bands for New York clubs and now uses those connections to invite acts stopping in Columbus to after-parties and "meet and greet" events.

Besides after-parties, the fresh and interesting approaches are what're bringing people into the Brewery District hangout.

When I stopped in for last Thursday's weekly Wax Jam - people bring in their vinyl to play on a cue list - it was busy but not packed, and a good vibe ran through the crowd.

People were friendly, nodding, saying hello, and I can only assume it's because there seemed to be an unspoken comradery that went something like this: "You must like good music and are probably a pretty cool guy/girl."

Besides Wax Jam, Double Happiness also presents local bands on Fridays and Saturdays. And future plans include expanding to special events and theme nights on Wednesday and Sundays as well as possibly offering a happy hour.

There's definitely an aura of immense cool there - there's Asian-themed decor complete with big paper lanterns, a sweet dance floor and stage, one of the coolest bathroom sinks I've ever seen - but it doesn't come off as exclusive. Everything from Otis Redding to RJD2 and familiar pop songs were played at the Wax night.

The bar offers cans of Black Label, Milwaukee's Best and PBR for $2 and craft selections ($5) from Ithaca and West Coast breweries. Appropriately, there are Tiger, Sapporo, Tsingtao and other Asian beers, too ($5).

Soon a cocktail menu featuring sake and soju (think high-alcohol Korean sake) infusions will be unveiled, and plans are in the works to serve Clever Crow Pizza.

Finally, I must mention that a TV at the bar only shows zombie flicks and other horror B-movies. I'm happy.